Elton John issues honest update on eyesight after telling fans 'I can't see'

Golden Globes: Elton John jokes about his eyesight

Legendary singer Sir Elton John, made light of his sight loss while presenting the Best Original Score Film award at the Golden Globes. The 77-year-old disclosed on Instagram in September that an infection over the summer had affected his right eye's vision.

On stage with Brandi Carlile, with whom he performed the song Never Too Late, Sir Elton reassured the audience: "There has been a lot of stories going ... around about my regressive eyesight, and I just want to reassure everyone it is not as bad as it seems, I'm so pleased to be here with my co-host, Rihanna."

As Carlile announced American musician Trent Reznor and English composer Atticus Ross as the winners for their musical score for the erotic film Challengers, featuring Zendaya as an injured tennis pro turned coach, Sir Elton cheered: "Yay".

The victors expressed gratitude to Zendaya and the rest of the cast for their "encouragement".

In September, Sir Elton revealed that a "severe eye infection" had resulted in "limited vision in one eye." He stated he was "healing, but it's an extremely slow process, and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye."

Elton John and Brandi Carlile presented the award for Best Original Score (Image: Getty)

At the star-studded December gala for the new musical The Devil Wears Prada, for which he composed the music, Sir Elton remarked: "I haven't been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight.

"So it's hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it and, boy, it sounded good tonight."

He also told Good Morning America: "I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France and it's been four months now since I haven't been able to see, and my left eye is not the greatest."

The legendary musician's headline performance at Glastonbury in 2023 was historic. It marked his final UK show on his epic 330-date Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, culminating in an emotionally charged finale in Stockholm, Sweden.

Earlier this year, Sir Elton joined the exclusive ranks of EGOT winners, becoming the 19th artist to achieve the prestigious quartet of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.

Elton has had a difficult time following sight loss. (Image: Getty)

Adding to his accolades, he boasts two Golden Globe wins for Best Original Song with (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again from his biopic Rocketman and the iconic Can You Feel The Love Tonight? from Disney's 1994 classic The Lion King.

However, the singer has been unable to complete any new music due to his limited eyesight and feeling "stuck".

He asked when the album with his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, announced last year, would be out. The Rocketman star told ABC News' Good Morning America: "I don't know. It's been a while since I've done anything, and well, I have to get off my backside.

"I, unfortunately, lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France, and it's been four months now since I haven't been able to see, and my left eye is not the greatest.

"So, there's hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but... I'm stuck at the moment because I can do something like this [the interview], but going into the studio and recording, I don't know, because I can't see a lyric for a start."

The singer said he was "taking an initiative to try and get it better" and was "concentrating" on regaining his eye health.

He said, "It's never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it floored me. And I can't see anything, I can't read anything, can't watch anything."